Like Lazarus, I thought this blog was dead. But lo and behold it’s back. Gadzukes Batman!
That line, I do believe comes straight out of the bible, honest. Well if it doesn’t then it should do.
Anyway, enough crazy talk, the deep slumber that this blog has been in has now been arrested by the news that I return to Japan for a measly two weeks in 24 (long) days time.
I’m excited, I’m scared, I’m interested in what’s changed. Let me tell you more, if you’ll indulge me a moment.
I’m excited
Life has flown by at an alarming rate since I left Japan. I’ve had three jobs, I’ve bought a house, I now own two kittens, I’m slowly becoming a Northerner. Things I didn’t think I’d be doing are happening or have happened. I’ve deeply missed Japan in those 3 years, opportunities to bore people with stories from Japan have been plentiful but if I learnt anything from living in Japan it’s been restraint. So I’ve not been one of those travel bores “When I was in [Country X]…” who, rather selfishly, indulge themselves at any given opportunity.
But in true Japanese style, I’ve supressed my desires to return. Rationalising life here in the UK and the career that I’ve begun to create. I’m happy in the UK but if I could transplant everything I care about into the heart of Japan, that would be a dream come true.
But enough of the back-story, you’ve come here looking for Japan related gubbins, if WordPress referrer stats are to be believed.
I’m excited because I feel that I’m in a better position to capture Japan in a more media-centric way on this trip. Armed with my trusty Nikon D40, a Sanyo Xacti video camera thing, an iPhone 4 (yes I’m a trendy W*nker) I’m more than ready to bring you the sights and sounds (and thankfully not the smells – Shibuya stinks of poo. 200,000 people living in a 3km x 5km area is a lot of toilets).
I’ll also be delighting o2 by tweeting from Japan, it’s part of a side project that I’m working on. Have a look here to see what I do for a living and some subtle clues as to what I’m working on.
I’m scared
I’m not really scared but you probably wouldn’t have been so keen to get this far without the drama. What I actually mean is that I’m excited to see what has changed, to catch up with my students and to use some of the Japanese that I’ve been trying to learn since coming back. Using a language is a scary thing, especially when you’ve not been able to practice it. So I’m sure I’ll be asking inappropriate things in a very stupid accent. We shall see.
I’m interested
I’m kind of running out of steam now, and well done you for sticking with me this far (if you did!). I’m very interested to see what’s changed since I was last in Japan. Given that in my time in Japan I recounted the things that had changed, it will be very interesting to see what’s different in Kita-Kogane, Yashira and all of the Tokyo haunts that were a staple of my time in Japan.
Whatever happens I know I’m in for an amazing time and it will be over before I know it I’m sure.
ja mata ne!
じゃまたね！
